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The confrontation happened after interim coach Lindsey Hunter's first practice and unfolded within earshot of several Suns players in the locker room, sources said.

O'Neal is frustrated with the direction of the Suns' rebuild and wanted more clarity on his future this season, a source with knowledge of the confrontation said. At 13-28, the Suns have the worst record in the Western Conference.

O'Neal signed a one-year deal in the offseason with Phoenix.

The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday that O'Neal missed practice with an "unstated medical issue" and wouldn't make the team's trip to Sacramento.

Blanks didn't immediately respond to a text message.

The Suns fired coach Alvin Gentry and replaced him with Hunter, who worked in player development and has no coaching background.

O'Neal has averaged 6.4 points and four rebounds a game for the Suns in his 16th season in the NBA.

I know I'm reading into things, but I'd take a look at JO for cheap. I know, I know I'm beating a dead horse.

If games are won and lost on a calculator and piece of paper, then why do we bother to play them?

JO at this stage of his career and at this stage of being a physical mess of a player is in no position to demand to know where he stood as far as the future this season with the Suns. He is lucky to be drawing a paycheck.

I'd take him on the cheap if he was looking to take a diminished role and not complain, but by this account, it doesn't look like that's the case. He doesn't move well enough to play PF anymore, and Hibbert and Mahinmi are better.

JO at this stage of his career and at this stage of being a physical mess of a player is in no position to demand to know where he stood as far as the future this season with the Suns. He is lucky to be drawing a paycheck.

As the Suns have come unraveled with their third consecutive non-winning season and a coaching change, the frustration has spilled over into the locker room.

Veteran Jermaine O'Neal and general manager Lance Blanks were involved in a heated, expletive-filled argument after interim coach Lindsey Hunter's first practice Monday, league sources confirmed to CBSSports.com. One person familiar with the tirade called it a "clearing of the air," but there are many issues remaining for the Suns to clear up before Hunter makes his coaching debut Wednesday night in Sacramento.

Among them, sources said, is O'Neal's concern about what his role will be under the new coach. Though O'Neal and Hunter never had any personal issues before, sources said O'Neal's concern may have stemmed from his sense of loyalty to Alvin Gentry, who was removed last week in what the team described as a mutual parting of the ways. Hunter is known to have been Blanks' choice to succeed Gentry.

Another player said to be upset with Gentry's removal is point guard Goran Dragic, a league source said.

Yahoo Sports reported that O'Neal's confrontation with Blanks, in the coach's office, was so loud that players could hear it from the locker room.

After three practices under Hunter, the Suns still don't know who will be on his coaching staff. Assistant Dan Majerle also left with Gentry, but former lead assistant Elston Turner did not attend practice for the third day in a row Tuesday. Turner's role with the team, if he stays in Phoenix at all, has yet to be determined after he was passed over for the head coaching job.

If Turner and the Suns part ways, the team is expected to look within the organization to fill out Hunter's coaching staff. Corey Gaines, who has WNBA coaching experience and has served as a scout and player development coach for the Suns, is a likely addition to the bench, sources said.

The Suns have lost 13 of 15 games. O'Neal, 34, was signed to a one-year minimum deal for this season and is averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 32 games off the bench.

Can you say "dumpster fire"?

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire"Everyone's values are defined by what they will tolerate when it is done to others." - William Greider

Can previously amnestied players, like Scola, be traded? Is there any penalty to do so? What salary would have to be matched, the amnestied salary or their "new" salary?

Is anyone even listening to me?

Well, this is encouraging.

If a team acquires an amnestied player through secondary waivers, then it is likely they will be able to trade the player after 30 days – just like any other player claimed through the waiver process. This is another detail that has not yet been confirmed by the league. Nor is it known what the player’s trade value will be for salary matching purposes, but it will likely be the amount the team is actually paying the player (i.e., the amount of their bid).